RAM question

[nickelodeon]

hi,

I have 128mb SDRAM inside my computer right now. I want my programs to run faster so I decided to buy 512mb ram DDR. I am deciding which one to get. My mobo is an athlon xp 1800+ and would it be compatible with a 3200 512 DDR?

The type i am about to buy is MEM PC3200 512MB DDR DIMM 100+ $140.

I have vistied crucial and it said 3200 was compatible with my mobo but some of my friends said it wouldnt but they dont know much about ram.

ps: I have 2 DDR slots and also i am aware that I cannot connect sd and ddr at the same time.

thanks! (in advance)

 

[Firah]

The PC3200 RAM needs a memory bus speed of 400MHz to acheive the reads/writes rate of 3200MB per second. The Athlon Xp 1800+ runs at a bus speed of 266MHz. Therefore the PC2100 DDR266 RAM will work just as well (and cheaper), since the PC3200 will run at 266MHz anyway.

 

[nickelodeon]

so should i but a pc 2100 512 DDR?

 

[nickelodeon]

and also the place i am getting from the 512 DDR 3200 is a lot chaeper then the pc 2100 512???

(http://www.ple.com.au)

 

[Firah]

Then go for the PC3200, if it's cheaper! It will stand you in good stead if you decide to upgrade your M/B and CPU later.

 

[griffinspc]

Strange pricing you outlined so I thought I'd check. The 2100 is "SO DIMM", here's a definition:
Short for Small Outline DIMM, a small version of a DIMM used commonly in notebook computers. Whereas a full-size DIMM has 168 pins and supports 64-bit transfers, a SO DIMM has only 72 pins, which supports only 32-bit transfers, or 144 pins, which supports a full 64-bit transfer.

Here's a quote from New Egg for the 3200: http://www.newegg.com/app/viewProductDesc.asp?description=20-141-424&depa=0

And the 2100: http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=20-144-001&depa=0

 

[Mr. Peabody]

Can one fo you guys help me with this thread?

http://forums.techguy.org/showthread.php?t=222007

Tks,

Mr. Peabody

 

[nickelodeon]

so if I get pc 2100 256mb Ram will that be just as fast as a pc2100 512 Ram?

 

[griffinspc]

so if I get pc 2100 256mb Ram will that be just as fast as a pc2100 512 Ram?

No, RAM doesn't equate 1 to 1. 512MB's is always better than 256 but you won't get double the speed. The point is you want to get RAM that is compatible with your motherboard and processor. That's number one!

What mobo do you have?

 

[nickelodeon]

OMG!!!! I MELTED MY MOTHERBOARD!!! lol

I got 512 pc3200 and it melted my motherboard!! (i was going to get pc 2100 but they dont sell it anymore). How come it melted my motherboard. I had to buy a new one lol

 

[Triple6]

What? Did you install the RAM backward? Installing it backward or half way will damage the RAM and/or motherboard. Another thing is if you have a motherboard with SDR and DDR you must change the jumper to select the proper RAM type.

 

[nickelodeon]

nope... the ram only went in one way. Well I didnt know that I had to change my jumper settings. It didnt say anything in tyhe manual. the technician who checked my comp out said it was sumthing to do with the power or supply or sumthing like that???